Dragon God-sama let out a voiceless sound when he saw Lunaria-sama’s remains.
“Ahh… Aaaahh…”
His eyes wide, mouth agap, looking toward the room in disbelief.
I too.
I could believe what I witnessed either.
Lunaria-sama is dead.
In a pool of her own blood.
The one who accepted me as her own, dead.
Who? Why?
I don’t understand.
She didn’t hold grudges with anyone.
Everyone in Dragon World love her dearly.
No one would thought to murder her.
Yet, I could hear the baby wailing nearby.
A howling cry.
Voice of losing someone irreplaceable.
The son of Dragon God is crying.
It brought me back to reality.
“Ahhhh…”
I saw Dragon God-sama,
An emotion I never before seen on his face.
A voice never before heard out of him.
Anger, pain, resentment.
Wearing a torrent of emotions.
Confusion, anxiety, shock.
Voicing a whirlwind of emotions.
I've never seen Dragon God-sama so emotional.
He crouched down and held Lunaria-sama in his right hand, and his child in his left.
Lunaria-sama probably did not die a quick death.
There were scratches everywhere on her body.
There was a potentially fatal wound on her neck, three on her chest, two on her abdomen, and eight on her back.
Truly terrible.
The murderer went way overboard than necessary to kill her.
Even though Lunaria-sama was human, as a sion of Human God, she was full of kindness and compassion, completely unattached with conflict.
Yet such a gentle creature resisted so vigorously.
After so many fatal injuries she still stood unyield to the enemy.
Why?
It was obvious.
She curled up like a turtle to protect someone.
To protect son of Dragon God-sama, her son.
Lunaria-sama resisted the attacker and was murdered for it.
But she did protect him.
Despite the numerous scars on her back, as proof the child yet lived.
After killing Lunaria-sama, the murderer probably ran.
“Why…?”
The dragon god muttered blankly.
Speaking to himself, as he reassessed the situation.
Maybe he had the same thought as I.
The identify of Lunaria-sama’s murderer.
"Whyyyyy?!"
Dragon God’s roar trembled the whole house, the whole city shaked, even the very mountain quaked.
"Who killed her!"
The murderous intent permeated the whole Dragon World.
All living things trembled in horror.
Quivering in the wrath of god.
From the smallest lizard, to the flying dragons, to the Dragon Race ourselves, we all shook in horror.
I was no exception.
My whole body trembled and sunk in place.
I understood that Dragon God-sama would not hurt me, I couldn’t control my unconscious fear.
"Aaaaaaaaaah!"
A ray of light shined from the body of Dragon God-sama.
What I perceived as light.
But it was a fist.
A fist carrying a dragon god's unspeakable rage passed by me.
When I turned around, there was a huge hole in the walls.
Through it the City of Kayose was visible continuously.
A great space at the back of the cityscape became an open cavern.
With a single blow, Dragon God-sama blew off a solid chunk of Dragon Roar’s Mountain.
It was embarrassing to say this.. But I leaked a little.
At that moment I could have been erased like those stones.
It wouldn’t be strange for Dragon God-sama to leap out of the house to unleash his fury.
"..."
But that did not happen.
Because there was one person who did fear God's wrath.
His child.
After Dragon God-sama picked him up by the left hand, he was no longer sobbing.
Although still snorting from his nose, he raised his head to look toward Ragon God-sama.
As if relieved that he had arrived.
"..."
Dragon God-sama saw the child and calmed down slightly.
He understood.
That he still had something to protect.
"Laplace."
Dragon God-sama called my name.
"Yes, I'm here!"
"Assemble the Five Dragon Generals. Find the murderer."
"Yes!"
I didn’t ask for a plan for the search.
I didn’t suggest discovering the motive first.
Dragon God was angry.
A rage never seen before.
The Five Dragon Generals were ordered to convene and hunt the criminal.
So we obey.
■
The Dragon Generals gathered immediately.
It’s only natural following a direct order from Dragon God-sama.
I rushed to each of the Five Dragon Generals to convey the order and collect them.
They’ll rush to every command of Dragon God-sama, no matter what, that’s the Five Dragon Generals.
Moreover, with Lunaria-sama’s murder, it would be odd if the Five Dragon Generals didn’t.
“What..? Lunaria-sama was murdered…?”
When I reported the circumstance to the Five Dragon Generals, everyone had a painful look.
No one in Dragon World hates Lunaria-sama.
Especially considering the
When General Goryu heard about the matter, everyone looked down with an analgesic look.
There is no one in the dragon world who hates Lunaria.
Considering Dragon God-sama’s loss, everyone suffered for him.
"Lunaria-sama's body had countless wounds. This suspect is obviously a person.”
I made my report.
Dragon God-sama remained mute after the Five Dragon Generals assembled.
He seemed to have calmed down slightly from before, but slowly a terrifying murderous intent oozed out from his corner of the room.
After my report, Dragon God-sama finally spoke.
“Find the criminal and drag them before me.”
Everyone of the Dragon Generals trembled at that voice.
Even I was terrified.
The wrath of the Dragon God-sama.
I never saw him like this before.
Even when Crystal, one of the Five Dragon Generals, died, he wasn’t this enraged.
“We obey!”
At once the Five Dragon Generals answered and their looks transformed.
If it’s a command from Dragon God-sama, we’d descend to the depth of hell.
The wrath of Dragon God-sama is also our wrath.
We are all determined to find Lunaria’s murderer.
"Go."
"Yes!"
At the command of Dragon God-sama, the Five Dragon Generals scattered all over the Dragon World.
Each looking for the culprit in their own way.
I, too, want to find them in my own way.
"Laplace, stay."
However, I was prevented by Dragon GOd-sama.
It was a surprise.
After all, I have a magic eye.
The ability to trace the criminal from the clues they left behind.
These traces do not disappear immediately, but do dissipate over time.
No one should have been more qualified than I was.
I also had the track record of catching the criminal who killed Crystal.
"Why? I also have Lunaria-sama's death ...!"
But I had a more important role.
"Let’s mourn for Lunaria."
At that time, I finally understood that the dragon god was not just angry.
He was sad.
If you think about it, it's a matter of course.
To be honest, I knew very little about Dragon God-sama’s feelings.
I didn’t realize how much he loved her.
Dragon God-sama was always a bit distant.
As if he’s always keeping a reasonable distance with Lunaria-sama.
But that wasn't the case.
Dragon God-sama truly loved Lunaria.
He just had a different way to show it.
"Understood."
To me who gave the most salute, Dragon God-sama quietly said, "thanks."
■
Funerals at Dragon World were a special affair.
The closest member of the family was responsible for carrying the dead.
This person was typically the deceased’s spouse, siblings, parents… or for those without immediate family, friends, colleagues, or even their immediate superiors.
The dead was picked up from where they lie and carried to the center of the town.
Every town had an altar at its center.
It’s an altar to pray for a safe rebirth for the recently dead.
Also where other love ones can make their eulogy.
I don’t remember the details, but the message was may you be born under Dragon God-sama again in your next life.
After the eulogies were raised, the dead were brought to the edge of town.
Circle around the perimeter once in a clockwise direction.
Dragon God-sama holding Lunaria-sama, while I carried the son of Dragon God-sama, with great care we completed the ceremony and circled the city.
Other Dragon Race stretched opened their palms and crossed their hearts when they saw who was carrying the dead.
The utmost salute of the Dragon Race.
We raise a fist to the living, but not to the dead.
That was the way of the Dragon Race.
In a normal situation, you only salute when you witnessed the body.
But all the city’s denizens came to attend Lunaria-sama’s funeral, assembling in it’s inner perimeter.
Everyone loved Lunaria-sama dearly.
They all wished to witness her one last time.
After circling once, we arrived at a small round building.
A building made of stone.
On its walls engraved many names.
Several stone tablets stood as well, also engrave with names.
Names of those that passed in the Dragon World.
Dragon God-sama carried Lunaria-sama into the building, and a person quickly went over.
Tattered wings and scattered scales.
It’s an old man.
Dragon Race have long lifespan, but we are not immortal.
We all die eventually.
He looked pained when he recognized Lunaria-sama.
“How could Lunaria-sama have died… What tragedy…”
He muttered, teary, as he carried her name on a stone tablet with a dragonbone chisel.
Names were typically engraved into the walls in order, but special people like Lunaria-sama were carved into stone tablets instead.
Of course, Crystal was also carved onto a stone tablet.
This was a graveyard.
A Dragon Race graveyard.
A facility to remember the dead.
When the old man received Lunaria-sama from Dragon God-sama, he went into the back of the building.
I walk behind him with Dragon God-sama.
There was a dark hole there.
The hole is so deep that it seems to continue to another world.
But, of course, it doesn't lead into another world.
This hole leads to the summit of Dragon Roar’s Mountain... that is, the sky.
"Pray for those who have become souls a good fortune in the afterlife, and for them to return to these mountains and come under the guidance and blessings of Dragon God-sama.”
The old man chanted a long eulogy.
I don't remember the wording in detail.
But it was longer than those chanted back in the city.
After finishing the chant, the old man gently placed Lunaria-sama's remains by hole.
Usually, it was dropped into the hole like that, and the funeral was over.
The hole leads to the sky, and if you jump out of the hole, you will be eaten by a giant black snake, a red dragon, a blue dragon, or worse.
Dragon Race has a long lifespan, but we could still die of old age out of battle.
Once upon a time, that was considered disgraceful.
It was thought as a honor to fight and die for Dragon God-sama.
But Dragon God-sama did not think so.
He believes all Dragon Race are equal under him.
That is why he came up with this funeral method.
He gave those who died of old age or illness the same as a warrior’s death.
And like a great warrior, their names are engraved.
They lived and died for the Dragon Race.
However, such funeral rites were not suitable for Lunaria-sama.
Therefore, a funeral rite of the human race would be held after this.
Dragon God-sama picked up Lunaria and returned to the mansion.
There, in the garden beside the mansion, he laid the corpse of Lunaria.
Then, with a pained look Dragon God-sama raised a flame from his hand, and wrapped Lunaria-sama with its blaze.
Lunaria-sama's remains were burned in an instant and turned into pure white bones and ashes.
Together with the dragon god, we buried the bones and ashes into the ground, and planted a small sapling above it.
This is the funeral of the human race.
Is it different now?
But at that time, that was the funeral rite of the human race that passed to the Dragon World.
Dead bodies of living things can turn into monsters where they lie.
Therefore, it must be burned and buried.
With a sapling planted above.
The sapling will grow withe the power of the dead.
While the tree lives, the living would never forget the dead.
This was how the human race, whose lifespan was shorter than trees, mourn their dead.
“I was introduced to Lunaria by Human God.”
After we buried Lunaria-sama, Dragon God-sama shared how they met with me.
I just silently listened to the words of Dragon God-sama.
"At first, it was just an experiment. Is it possible to have children with another races, and if so, what power will they have? An experiment with consequences for all the peoples of the world.”
“These experiments have been carried out many times, but one day Human God said, ‘What would happen if the gods have children together?’"
"Thus Human God brought Lunaria for this. As she was Human God’s daughter, and all the other gods are male and could not have children.”
"I did not love Lunaria, but she did her best for Dragon World. She used her power as a scion of daughter to enrich the Dragon World."
"To me, all the Dragon Race are like children. All the Dragon Race are important. I wanted each and every one of them to be happy."
"When Lunaria gave me a child, I finally realized that she seemed more special than the Dragon Race.”
"I didn’t realize it… but by the time I noticed it, I had come to love Lunaria.”
Dragon God-sama said with a nostalgic face.
Lunaria-sama never changed.
A person full of grace.
Even Dragon God-sama came to love her.
"Laplace."
"Yes."
"I can't forgive the one who killed Lunaria. I'm still trembling with unprecedented rage."
"Yes."
"Even if we turn other worlds into enemies, will you follow me?"
"It goes without saying. Everyone, not just me, will follow the Dragon God-sama until the end. Even to our own destruction."
Dragon God-sama stood up in silence.
His eyes were sharp and his body radiating murderous intent.
There was no sadness anymore.
I was fearful.
Even though I knew that murderous intent wasn’t aimed at myself.
No living thing would not find it terrifying.
Our revenge.
It has begun.
■■■
"Master……"
When he came to, Rostelina was standing in front of Laplace.
Studying Laplace with a worried look.
“Hmm? What’s wrong, Rostelina? The story isn’t over, but had you heard enough for today?”
“Oh no. I wish to continue.. But Laplace-sama, perhaps you should have a night’s rest first?”
“Why do you think so?”
“Because…”
Rostelina took out a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped Laplace’s face.
It whisked some stuff running down his cheek and darkened.
Yes, at some point Laplace had begun to cry.
Tears pouring out his face, sobbing through his words.
His speech was becoming so muddled, by the end of the story, it was hard to make out his words.
"Oh, I'm sorry. When I remember that time, it became like this."
"Laplace loved Lunaria-sama, didn't he?"
"Well, she was my mother. Even though we’re not connected by blood, she stood by my side. She was always there when I returned home, smiling so gently, listening to my stories. A goddess of compassion. To be so cruelly murdered… That experience on that horrible day… Even now… woo… woo…”
Laplace cried.
With a hand covering his eyes, he bend down, his shoulders shivering, with a slight sob, he cried.
Rostelina quietly watched, as a man twice her size sob in front of her.
She was troubled.
Because this was the first time she saw Laplace cry.
But after a while, she ran to the kitchen, drew a glass of water, and returned.
Slowly, she stroked his back, and offered him the glass.
"Fufu, thank you. Rostelina”.
Now that I thought about it, you’re always there to comfort me.
I was tired of an empty home and happy to have someone to welcome
"No, it's okay, master. I don't need you to thank me, and I’m grateful that I could be of help."
"Well, let's count on each other."
Laplace said so and straightened up in his chair.
His eyes were red and engorged, but his tears had stopped.
A clear voice came out of his mouth, no more muddled by sobbing.
"Let's continue the story. I'm sorry, but I may shed tears several times from here as well."
"Yes, I'll have some water ready."
"Haha, you sure are considerate… Next...."
Dragon God-sama let out a voiceless sound when he saw Lunaria-sama’s remains.
“Ahh… Aaaahh…”
His eyes wide, mouth agap, looking toward the room in disbelief.
I too.
I could believe what I witnessed either.
Lunaria-sama is dead.
In a pool of her own blood.
The one who accepted me as her own, dead.
Who? Why?
I don’t understand.
She didn’t hold grudges with anyone.
Everyone in Dragon World love her dearly.
No one would thought to murder her.
Yet, I could hear the baby wailing nearby.
A howling cry.
Voice of losing someone irreplaceable.
The son of Dragon God is crying.
It brought me back to reality.
“Ahhhh…”
I saw Dragon God-sama,
An emotion I never before seen on his face.
A voice never before heard out of him.
Anger, pain, resentment.
Wearing a torrent of emotions.
Confusion, anxiety, shock.
Voicing a whirlwind of emotions.
I've never seen Dragon God-sama so emotional.
He crouched down and held Lunaria-sama in his right hand, and his child in his left.
Lunaria-sama probably did not die a quick death.
There were scratches everywhere on her body.
There was a potentially fatal wound on her neck, three on her chest, two on her abdomen, and eight on her back.
Truly terrible.
The murderer went way overboard than necessary to kill her.
Even though Lunaria-sama was human, as a sion of Human God, she was full of kindness and compassion, completely unattached with conflict.
Yet such a gentle creature resisted so vigorously.
After so many fatal injuries she still stood unyield to the enemy.
Why?
It was obvious.
She curled up like a turtle to protect someone.
To protect son of Dragon God-sama, her son.
Lunaria-sama resisted the attacker and was murdered for it.
But she did protect him.
Despite the numerous scars on her back, as proof the child yet lived.
After killing Lunaria-sama, the murderer probably ran.
“Why…?”
The dragon god muttered blankly.
Speaking to himself, as he reassessed the situation.
Maybe he had the same thought as I.
The identify of Lunaria-sama’s murderer.
"Whyyyyy?!"
Dragon God’s roar trembled the whole house, the whole city shaked, even the very mountain quaked.
"Who killed her!"
The murderous intent permeated the whole Dragon World.
All living things trembled in horror.
Quivering in the wrath of god.
From the smallest lizard, to the flying dragons, to the Dragon Race ourselves, we all shook in horror.
I was no exception.
My whole body trembled and sunk in place.
I understood that Dragon God-sama would not hurt me, I couldn’t control my unconscious fear.
"Aaaaaaaaaah!"
A ray of light shined from the body of Dragon God-sama.
What I perceived as light.
But it was a fist.
A fist carrying a dragon god's unspeakable rage passed by me.
When I turned around, there was a huge hole in the walls.
Through it the City of Kayose was visible continuously.
A great space at the back of the cityscape became an open cavern.
With a single blow, Dragon God-sama blew off a solid chunk of Dragon Roar’s Mountain.
It was embarrassing to say this.. But I leaked a little.
At that moment I could have been erased like those stones.
It wouldn’t be strange for Dragon God-sama to leap out of the house to unleash his fury.
"..."
But that did not happen.
Because there was one person who did fear God's wrath.
His child.
After Dragon God-sama picked him up by the left hand, he was no longer sobbing.
Although still snorting from his nose, he raised his head to look toward Ragon God-sama.
As if relieved that he had arrived.
"..."
Dragon God-sama saw the child and calmed down slightly.
He understood.
That he still had something to protect.
"Laplace."
Dragon God-sama called my name.
"Yes, I'm here!"
"Assemble the Five Dragon Generals. Find the murderer."
"Yes!"
I didn’t ask for a plan for the search.
I didn’t suggest discovering the motive first.
Dragon God was angry.
A rage never seen before.
The Five Dragon Generals were ordered to convene and hunt the criminal.
So we obey.
■
The Dragon Generals gathered immediately.
It’s only natural following a direct order from Dragon God-sama.
I rushed to each of the Five Dragon Generals to convey the order and collect them.
They’ll rush to every command of Dragon God-sama, no matter what, that’s the Five Dragon Generals.
Moreover, with Lunaria-sama’s murder, it would be odd if the Five Dragon Generals didn’t.
“What..? Lunaria-sama was murdered…?”
When I reported the circumstance to the Five Dragon Generals, everyone had a painful look.
No one in Dragon World hates Lunaria-sama.
Especially considering the
When General Goryu heard about the matter, everyone looked down with an analgesic look.
There is no one in the dragon world who hates Lunaria.
Considering Dragon God-sama’s loss, everyone suffered for him.
"Lunaria-sama's body had countless wounds. This suspect is obviously a person.”
I made my report.
Dragon God-sama remained mute after the Five Dragon Generals assembled.
He seemed to have calmed down slightly from before, but slowly a terrifying murderous intent oozed out from his corner of the room.
After my report, Dragon God-sama finally spoke.
“Find the criminal and drag them before me.”
Everyone of the Dragon Generals trembled at that voice.
Even I was terrified.
The wrath of the Dragon God-sama.
I never saw him like this before.
Even when Crystal, one of the Five Dragon Generals, died, he wasn’t this enraged.
“We obey!”
At once the Five Dragon Generals answered and their looks transformed.
If it’s a command from Dragon God-sama, we’d descend to the depth of hell.
The wrath of Dragon God-sama is also our wrath.
We are all determined to find Lunaria’s murderer.
"Go."
"Yes!"
At the command of Dragon God-sama, the Five Dragon Generals scattered all over the Dragon World.
Each looking for the culprit in their own way.
I, too, want to find them in my own way.
"Laplace, stay."
However, I was prevented by Dragon GOd-sama.
It was a surprise.
After all, I have a magic eye.
The ability to trace the criminal from the clues they left behind.
These traces do not disappear immediately, but do dissipate over time.
No one should have been more qualified than I was.
I also had the track record of catching the criminal who killed Crystal.
"Why? I also have Lunaria-sama's death ...!"
But I had a more important role.
"Let’s mourn for Lunaria."
At that time, I finally understood that the dragon god was not just angry.
He was sad.
If you think about it, it's a matter of course.
To be honest, I knew very little about Dragon God-sama’s feelings.
I didn’t realize how much he loved her.
Dragon God-sama was always a bit distant.
As if he’s always keeping a reasonable distance with Lunaria-sama.
But that wasn't the case.
Dragon God-sama truly loved Lunaria.
He just had a different way to show it.
"Understood."
To me who gave the most salute, Dragon God-sama quietly said, "thanks."
■
Funerals at Dragon World were a special affair.
The closest member of the family was responsible for carrying the dead.
This person was typically the deceased’s spouse, siblings, parents… or for those without immediate family, friends, colleagues, or even their immediate superiors.
The dead was picked up from where they lie and carried to the center of the town.
Every town had an altar at its center.
It’s an altar to pray for a safe rebirth for the recently dead.
Also where other love ones can make their eulogy.
I don’t remember the details, but the message was may you be born under Dragon God-sama again in your next life.
After the eulogies were raised, the dead were brought to the edge of town.
Circle around the perimeter once in a clockwise direction.
Dragon God-sama holding Lunaria-sama, while I carried the son of Dragon God-sama, with great care we completed the ceremony and circled the city.
Other Dragon Race stretched opened their palms and crossed their hearts when they saw who was carrying the dead.
The utmost salute of the Dragon Race.
We raise a fist to the living, but not to the dead.
That was the way of the Dragon Race.
In a normal situation, you only salute when you witnessed the body.
But all the city’s denizens came to attend Lunaria-sama’s funeral, assembling in it’s inner perimeter.
Everyone loved Lunaria-sama dearly.
They all wished to witness her one last time.
After circling once, we arrived at a small round building.
A building made of stone.
On its walls engraved many names.
Several stone tablets stood as well, also engrave with names.
Names of those that passed in the Dragon World.
Dragon God-sama carried Lunaria-sama into the building, and a person quickly went over.
Tattered wings and scattered scales.
It’s an old man.
Dragon Race have long lifespan, but we are not immortal.
We all die eventually.
He looked pained when he recognized Lunaria-sama.
“How could Lunaria-sama have died… What tragedy…”
He muttered, teary, as he carried her name on a stone tablet with a dragonbone chisel.
Names were typically engraved into the walls in order, but special people like Lunaria-sama were carved into stone tablets instead.
Of course, Crystal was also carved onto a stone tablet.
This was a graveyard.
A Dragon Race graveyard.
A facility to remember the dead.
When the old man received Lunaria-sama from Dragon God-sama, he went into the back of the building.
I walk behind him with Dragon God-sama.
There was a dark hole there.
The hole is so deep that it seems to continue to another world.
But, of course, it doesn't lead into another world.
This hole leads to the summit of Dragon Roar’s Mountain... that is, the sky.
"Pray for those who have become souls a good fortune in the afterlife, and for them to return to these mountains and come under the guidance and blessings of Dragon God-sama.”
The old man chanted a long eulogy.
I don't remember the wording in detail.
But it was longer than those chanted back in the city.
After finishing the chant, the old man gently placed Lunaria-sama's remains by hole.
Usually, it was dropped into the hole like that, and the funeral was over.
The hole leads to the sky, and if you jump out of the hole, you will be eaten by a giant black snake, a red dragon, a blue dragon, or worse.
Dragon Race has a long lifespan, but we could still die of old age out of battle.
Once upon a time, that was considered disgraceful.
It was thought as a honor to fight and die for Dragon God-sama.
But Dragon God-sama did not think so.
He believes all Dragon Race are equal under him.
That is why he came up with this funeral method.
He gave those who died of old age or illness the same as a warrior’s death.
And like a great warrior, their names are engraved.
They lived and died for the Dragon Race.
However, such funeral rites were not suitable for Lunaria-sama.
Therefore, a funeral rite of the human race would be held after this.
Dragon God-sama picked up Lunaria and returned to the mansion.
There, in the garden beside the mansion, he laid the corpse of Lunaria.
Then, with a pained look Dragon God-sama raised a flame from his hand, and wrapped Lunaria-sama with its blaze.
Lunaria-sama's remains were burned in an instant and turned into pure white bones and ashes.
Together with the dragon god, we buried the bones and ashes into the ground, and planted a small sapling above it.
This is the funeral of the human race.
Is it different now?
But at that time, that was the funeral rite of the human race that passed to the Dragon World.
Dead bodies of living things can turn into monsters where they lie.
Therefore, it must be burned and buried.
With a sapling planted above.
The sapling will grow withe the power of the dead.
While the tree lives, the living would never forget the dead.
This was how the human race, whose lifespan was shorter than trees, mourn their dead.
“I was introduced to Lunaria by Human God.”
After we buried Lunaria-sama, Dragon God-sama shared how they met with me.
I just silently listened to the words of Dragon God-sama.
"At first, it was just an experiment. Is it possible to have children with another races, and if so, what power will they have? An experiment with consequences for all the peoples of the world.”
“These experiments have been carried out many times, but one day Human God said, ‘What would happen if the gods have children together?’"
"Thus Human God brought Lunaria for this. As she was Human God’s daughter, and all the other gods are male and could not have children.”
"I did not love Lunaria, but she did her best for Dragon World. She used her power as a scion of daughter to enrich the Dragon World."
"To me, all the Dragon Race are like children. All the Dragon Race are important. I wanted each and every one of them to be happy."
"When Lunaria gave me a child, I finally realized that she seemed more special than the Dragon Race.”
"I didn’t realize it… but by the time I noticed it, I had come to love Lunaria.”
Dragon God-sama said with a nostalgic face.
Lunaria-sama never changed.
A person full of grace.
Even Dragon God-sama came to love her.
"Laplace."
"Yes."
"I can't forgive the one who killed Lunaria. I'm still trembling with unprecedented rage."
"Yes."
"Even if we turn other worlds into enemies, will you follow me?"
"It goes without saying. Everyone, not just me, will follow the Dragon God-sama until the end. Even to our own destruction."
Dragon God-sama stood up in silence.
His eyes were sharp and his body radiating murderous intent.
There was no sadness anymore.
I was fearful.
Even though I knew that murderous intent wasn’t aimed at myself.
No living thing would not find it terrifying.
Our revenge.
It has begun.
■■■
"Master……"
When he came to, Rostelina was standing in front of Laplace.
Studying Laplace with a worried look.
“Hmm? What’s wrong, Rostelina? The story isn’t over, but had you heard enough for today?”
“Oh no. I wish to continue.. But Laplace-sama, perhaps you should have a night’s rest first?”
“Why do you think so?”
“Because…”
Rostelina took out a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped Laplace’s face.
It whisked some stuff running down his cheek and darkened.
Yes, at some point Laplace had begun to cry.
Tears pouring out his face, sobbing through his words.
His speech was becoming so muddled, by the end of the story, it was hard to make out his words.
"Oh, I'm sorry. When I remember that time, it became like this."
"Laplace loved Lunaria-sama, didn't he?"
"Well, she was my mother. Even though we’re not connected by blood, she stood by my side. She was always there when I returned home, smiling so gently, listening to my stories. A goddess of compassion. To be so cruelly murdered… That experience on that horrible day… Even now… woo… woo…”
Laplace cried.
With a hand covering his eyes, he bend down, his shoulders shivering, with a slight sob, he cried.
Rostelina quietly watched, as a man twice her size sob in front of her.
She was troubled.
Because this was the first time she saw Laplace cry.
But after a while, she ran to the kitchen, drew a glass of water, and returned.
Slowly, she stroked his back, and offered him the glass.
"Fufu, thank you. Rostelina”.
Now that I thought about it, you’re always there to comfort me.
I was tired of an empty home and happy to have someone to welcome
"No, it's okay, master. I don't need you to thank me, and I’m grateful that I could be of help."
"Well, let's count on each other."
Laplace said so and straightened up in his chair.
His eyes were red and engorged, but his tears had stopped.
A clear voice came out of his mouth, no more muddled by sobbing.
"Let's continue the story. I'm sorry, but I may shed tears several times from here as well."
"Yes, I'll have some water ready."
"Haha, you sure are considerate… Next...."
